Music-leaf turner.



G. E. JBTER.

MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1911. RENEWED MAY 4, 1912.

1 43,840, Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

III-1.1-

mmwutoa Jester U. E. JETER.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 16, 1911. RENEWED MAY 4, 1912.

1 ,O43,840 Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

iififi- X X I! u i I 6 a L 6 9 7 /7 jg l 77 4 1 r 7 1 FL? 3 FL lg" p 47 m n! Suva/W607 v V alakien GNU/WW0 COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-,\VASH1NGTON. D. c.

G. B. JETER. MUSIC LEAF TURNER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1911 RENEWED MAY 4, 1912.

1,043,840, Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLTELL EDWARD JETER, OF BUNA, TEXAS.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Application filed August 16, 1911, Serial No. 644,328.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLELL EDWARD Jnrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buna, in the county of Jasper and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in music leaf turners, and more particularly to the class of leaf turners which are adapted to be manually operated by means of the foot, and my object is to provide a device of this character with means thereon, which is normally positioned to turn a leaf.

A further object is to provide skeleton frames on the device for retaining the leaves of music, and further to provide adjusting means on said frames for the provision of various sized leaves.

A further object is to provide an operating lever having a trailer connected thereto, which is adapted to engage, and individually turn the frames of the device, through the operation of said lever.

A still further object is to provide means in connection with the operating lever, whereby the same may be operated by means of the foot of the player.

WVith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter referred to, and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, Figure l is a perspective View showing my improved leaf turner applied to a piano. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the device showing the lower bearing box in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional view as seen on line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective showing the operating parts in the lower bearing box. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the skeleton frames. Fig. 6 is a section through the track in the lower bearing box. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective of the trailer. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the power lever, and, Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the elevating lever removed.

erence characters designate. corresponding Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

Renewed May 4, 1912. Serial No. 695,321.

parts throughout the several views, and in which 1 and 2 indicate the main, or back plates of my improved leaf turner, the lower edges of said plates 1 and 2 being bent outwardly and upwardly, as at a, to provide channels 5, between said portions and the plates which are adapted to receive the lower edges of the leaves of music, whereby the same may be held or retained on said back plates. The outer corners of said plates 1 and 2 are provided with the curved tips or plates 6, which are spaced from said plates 1 and 2, to form additional channels at those points, whereby the corners of the leaves may be held therein, and prevented from turning or curling. These back plates form rests for the cover sheets of the music, and to provide for the securing and turning of the inner sheets, the skeleton frames 7 are mounted on said back plates, each frame comprising a vertical standard 8, a pair of horizontally disposed arms 9, formed integral therewith, and a vertical arm 10 connecting the outer ends of said arms 9. These skeleton frames are rotatably mounted on said back plates by positioning the ,vertical standard 8 in the bearing 3, and mounting the upper and lower ends thereof,

respectively, in the upper and lower bearing boxes 11 and 12, and the upper ends of said standards 8 are bent at right angles, as at 13, to prevent any liability of the same becoming removed from their respective hearing boxes.

The sides and ends of both the hack plates and the skeleton frames are provided with the clamps ll, so that the leaves of music placed thereon may be retained thereto, and I have also provided for the possibility of the leaves being undersized. To this end, I provide on each of the skeleton frames the sliding rod 15, which is provided at its ends with the eyes 16, through which extend the horizontal arms 9, and set screws, or the like 17, are carried by said eyes, adapted to be forced into engagement with said arms 9. This makes it possible for said rod 15 to be moved outwardly and inwardly to various adjustments on said arms in accordance with the size of the leaf of music, and as said arms are also provided with clamps, similar to those described as 14, said leaf may be held thereto.

its stated, the standards 8 of the skeleton frames '7, have their ends mounted, respectively, in the upper and lower bearing boxes 11 and 12, whereby it will be seen that when the leaves of music have been properly placed on the back plates, and said skeleton frames, various leaves may be turned in accordance with the rotation of said skeleton frames, but I have also provided foot operating means for the rotation of said frames, and as the direct connection between said means and the frames, is mounted in the lower bearing box, said box may be termed a power box. Pivotally mounted within said power or bearing box 12, is a power lever, or the like 18, which lever extends beyond said bearing box through a slot 19 in the front: face thereof, and a coil spring 20, having one end thereof in engagement with said lever, and the other with one end of said box, is adapted to normally retain said lever adjacent one end thereof. Also mounted in said bearing box 12, is an arcuately designed track 21, upon which said lev r 18 rests. Said track is provided on its outer face with a substantially T- shaped groove 22, and a trailer, or the like 23, is pivotally secured at one end thereof to said lever and is adapted to move on said track. Said trailer has a portion thereof formed substantially T-shaped in cross-section, to fit within the groove 22 of said track, and as the same is also designed arcu ately, coincident to the curvature of said track, the same will move throughout the length thereof, as the lever is moved thereon. Hingedly secured adjacent the lower end of each of said standards 8, and within said power box, is a leaf bar or the like 24;, and said leaf bar is adapted to be normally retained in contact with said arcuate track by means of a coil spring 25, one end of which is engaged with said bar 2 1, and the other to the lower end of said standard 8. The trailer 23 has the upper face thereof inclined from the free end to the central portion, said central portion being provided with a slot or groove 26, and it will be seen that as said trailer is forced into engagement with said leaf bars 24, the same will ride over said inclined port-ion and into engagement with said slot 26. hen a leaf bar of a standard has been engaged with the trailer, the lever 18 may then be operated to rotate on its pivot, thereby drawing with it the frame upon which said leaf bars are the respective leaf bar, will be swung to the opposite side. In order to release said bar from its fastening on the trailer, when said frame has reached the opposite side, I provide the releasing member 27, which comprises a lug, or the like, having an inclined upper face, and positioned in the path of the leaf bars 2%, adjacent their destination on the side to which they are to be turned. As each leaf bar comes into contact with said lug 27, the same will be raised sufficiently to become released from its fastening in the groove of the trailer. This allows the lever 18 to be again forced back to its normal position, through the medium of the sprin 20, whereby the trailer may again connect with a leaf bar to turn the latter when desired.

As stated, the operation of the lever 18 is through the medium of the foot, and to carry out this end, I provide clamps, or the like, 28, extending from said back plates 1 and 2, to be engaged with a piano, organ, or other similar musical instrument 29, whereby the device may be securely held thereon. As the lever 18 extends beyond the power or bearing box 12, the outer end thereof is connected to one end of link, or rod 30, the opposite end of said rod being secured to one arm of a bell crank 31, which is mounted at one end of a piano, or the like. The opposite end of the bell crank 31 is connected to an additional link 32, which is in turn connected to an additional crank 33, and said last referred to crank 33, is further connected to a third bell crank 34, through the medium of the rod 35. Said last referred to bell crank 34 is positioned adjacent the pedals of the piano, and has the free arm thereof provided with a pedal 36, which is adapted to be conveniently operated by the foot of the player. These cranks and rods are so arranged that each time pressure is placed on the pedal 86, the lever 18 will be drawn to the side of the bearing box opposite that to which it is normally disposed, and as the pressure is released upon said pedal, said lever will be returned to its normal position, automatically, through the medium of the spring 20. It will, doubtless, be obvious, from the foregoing description, that as each time the lever 18 is drawn back to its normal position with such force as the spring 20 may have, a leaf bar of the frame will be connected to said lever through the medium ofthe trailer, so that as each time the lever is movedon its pivot, a skeleton frame will be moved therewith.

After all of the leaf bars 2 have been turned to a position beyond the lug 27, some means must be provided for the release of these bars from their engaged position so that the same may be returned to their initial positions, and to this extent, I provide the releasing lever 38 which is formed like a bell crank lever, being substantially L-shaped in design, and pivoted at the point of intersection of the two main arms on a lug or the like 39 formed on the lower or base plate of the rower bearing box 12. The longer arm of the L-shaped lever 38 projects below the lower box 12 and has the free end thereof provided with a handle member or the like 40, while the shorter arm thereof projects within said bearing box and has an additional arm 41 formed thereon, said arm 41 being disposed in a horizontal plane parallel with the horizontal plane of the longer arm of the lever 38. This arm 41 is arcuate in design, the same being curved coincident to the curvature of the tracks 21 and 22, and a portion of said arm is inclined downwardly to the ifree end thereof, as shown at 42, and in its normal position, the weight of the handle member and the longer arm of the L-shaped lever 38 will dispose the arm 41 downwardly so that the inclined portion thereof contacts with the upper face of the base plate of the lower bearing box 12, as shown in Fig. 4. hen all the leaf bars 24 have been disposed beyond the lug 27 or any number of the same have been disposed therebeyond, and it is desired to return the same to their initial positions, it will only be necessary to swing the lever 38 on its pivot by the forcing of the handle member 40 upwardly, which action will allow the arm 41 to contact with the end faces of the leaf bars 24 to raise the same from their positions in contact with the track 21. It will also be seen that that portion of the arm 41 which will contact with the leaf bars 24 is the inclined portion 42 thereof, which inclined portion, when forced upwardly through the forcing of the handle member 40 upwardly, will be disposed at an angle greater than the angle of the lug 27, thereby allowing the leaf bars 24 to be readily slipped from their position beyond the lug 27 without contacting with the same, whatsoever. These leaf bars are adapted to be moved from their position in engagement with the arm 41 by hand back to their initial position on the righthand side of the lower bearing box 12, and when said leaf bars have been moved to their initial positions, the lever 38 may be released to allow the same to return to the position shown in Fig. 4, and in this position, it will be observed that the power lever 18 may readily move to a posit-ion to allow the leaf bars 24 to engage the lug 27 without finding any obstruction from said releasing lever.

It will also be seen from the foregoing, that I have provided a simple means whereby the leaves of music may be turned by means of the foot of the player, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing an additional person for turning the leaves of music.

It will further be seen that I have provided means whereby the device for turning the leaves will be normally in position for operation.

It will still further be seen that I have provided a power lever having means connected thereto for engagement with the various frames carrying the sheets of music, and furthermore, it will be seen that I provide a means for automatically releasing the frames from their connection with the power lever. Moreover, it will be seen that from the simple construction of the device, the same may be cheaply manufactured and adapted to be easily applied to any instrument of the character shown in the drawings.

Although I have particularly described the various features in the preferred form of my device, it will be readily understood that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

IVhat I claim is:

1. A music leaf turner comprising back plates, an upper and lower bearing box mounted thereon, frames rotatably mounted in said bearing boxes, a lever pivotally mounted in the lower of said bearing boxes, spring means to normally position said lever adjacent one end of said box, an arcuate track also mounted in said lower box, a spring held bar carried by each of said frames, and adapted to rest upon said track, and means to automatically connect said lever with each of said bars.

2. A music leaf turner comprising back plates, an upper and lower bearing box mounted thereon, frames rotatably mounted in said bearing boxes, a lever pivotally mounted in the lower of said bearing boxes, spring means to normally position said lever adjacent one end of said box, an arcuate track also mounted in said lower box, a spring held bar carried by each of said frames, and adapted to rest upon said track, means to automatically connect said lever with each of said bars, and additional means to automatically release the bars from the lever.

3. A music leaf turner comprising back plates, an upper and lower bearing box carried thereby, frames having their ends pivotally mounted within said bearing boxes, a lever pivotally mounted in the lower of said bearing boxes an arcuate track also mounted in said lower bearing box, upon which said lever is adapted to rest, spring means to normallv position said lever adjacent one end of the bearing box, a bar hingedly secured adjacent the lower end of each of said frames, spring means to normally position said bars on said track, a member carriedby said lever and mounted on said track to automatically connect each of said bars to said lever, whereby said frames may be moved with the moving of said lever.

4. A music leaf turner of the class described, comprising an upper and lower bearing box secured thereto, frames pivotally mounted in said bearing boxes, a power lever pivotally mounted in the lower of said bearing boxes, means to normally position said lever adjacent one end of the bearing box, a track of arcuate design also mounted in said lower bearing box, a bar hinged adjacent the lower end of each of said frames and adapted to rest on said track, a trailing member carried by said lever and positioned on said track to automatically connect said bars with said lever, means to automatically release said bars from their connection with the lever, and means to operate said lever by the foot.

5. A music leaf turner of the class described, comprising back plates, an upper and lower bearing box mounted thereon, frames having their ends pivotally mounted in said bearing boxes, a power lever pivotally mounted in the lower of said boxes, an arcuate track also mounted in said, lower box upon which said lever rests, a bar hinged to each of said frames adjacent their lower ends, spring means to normally force said bars into engagement with track, additional spring means to position said lever adjacent one end of the box, a trailer carried by the lever and positioned on said track and having a slot therein for the reception of said bars, means to automatically engage said bars with said trailer, additional means to release the same therefrom, and means to operate said power lever by the foot.

6. A music turner of the class described, comprising back plates, means to mount the same on an instrument, bearing boxes mount lower ends thereof, frames pivotally mounted between said bearing boxes, a lever pivotally mounted in the lower of said boxes, an arcuate track also mounted in said lower bearing box, upon which said lever rests, a bar hingedly secured adjacent the lower end of each of said frames, spring means to positon said bar normally in contact with said track, a trailer carried by said lever positioned on said track, said trailer having the free end thereof inclined upwardly toward the central portion, said central portion being provided with a slot, spring means having connection with said lever at one end of said lower bearing box to automatically engage the bars of the frames with said trailer, additional means at the opposite end of said bar to automatically release said bars from their connection with the trailer, and means to operate said lever by the foot.

7. A music leaf turner of the class described, comprising a pair of plates arranged in horizontal alinement, upper and lower bearing boxes mounted thereon, frames rotatably mounted between said bearing boxes, each of said frames being provided with spring-held bars arranged in the lower bearing box, a lever pivot-ally mounted in said lower bearing box, means to engage said lever with the individual bars, means to automatically release said bars from the lever as the latter is partially rotated, said latter means locking said bars in their adjusted positions, and additional means to release said bars from their locked positions to be turned to their initial positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. CLELL EDWARD JETER.

lVit-nesses: Y 7

J. C. Rnnn, H. W lVHrrn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

